A while ago I wrote an article about ‘Top Mobile Street Photography Tips‘ where I asked several mobile photographers a few questions about street photography and their views on the subject.
As well as street photography, I have always been a big fan of landscape photography, I love the outdoors and find it the perfect way to de-stress by surrounding myself in it. I thought it would be interesting to follow up on the street photography idea but ask several mobile photographers from the field of landscape photography for their views on what makes a good landscape photographer and what their top tips are…. This is what they had to say.
Anna Cox
Anna Cox is a mobile photographer, mother, artist and editor of ‘We Are Juxt’ who lives in Texas. Her photographic style captures the essence of the neglected and abandoned landscapes that surround her and has an incredible eye for a shot.
I’ve been apart of the mobile community for a little over three years. I shoot mostly landscapes and abandoned locations and lean mostly towards black and white editing. I approach landscapes in a round about way. I wouldn’t by definition say I am a landscape photographer although the subject matter I am drawn to is usually nestled in the country side. I do think the relationship of nature to abandoned sites is interesting in the fact that nature always finds it’s way back in. I usually shoot by first finding a point of interest either natural or man-made. After I have found something that is eye catching I take multiple detail shots then back away from the scene eventually capturing the entire scene.
What do you think makes a good landscape photographer?
As with any genre, I think a good photographer is one that is able to tell a story or relate an emotion to their audience. Within the genre of landscape, it’s the photographer’s job to reinvent the wheel with every photo. Everyone has seen a field but a developed landscape photographer can make their audience see it for the first time. We have all run across photographers that can take our breath away with the majesty of a scene. Those are true masters.
What are your top landscape photography tips?
- Find a point of interest whether it be a tree, a building, or leading lines. Your audience needs a final point to rest their eyes.
- Shoot in the morning or evening when the light is diffused. The sky can make a huge difference in your photo. If you find the sky to be boring in post processing go back another day when it’s storming to create a different mood.
- Try not to split the picture plane directly in half. But, this doesn’t always apply. Rules are made to be broken, after all aren’t they?
Where can people connect with your online?
We Are Juxt | Stark Life Photography | Instagram | Twitter
Gianluca Ricoveri
Gianluca Ricoveri is retired and lives near Pisa in Tuscany. He has a unique style of mobile photography which has a painterly style that is more reminiscent of old traditional impresisonist paintings rather than modern day iphone photography. His work has been featured across several leading websites and in many exhibitions in the photography field.
My job made me travel all over Tuscany, so I had the chance to admire some of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy, its change in different seasons and different times of day.
This led me to notice the endless variety and differences that one can find and I was stimulated to transmit these emotions through my expressive language.
The use of the iPhone allows a personal reading of the image yet during the shooting phase through Apps like Hipstamatic, VSCOcam etc…
Beyond that, what makes Mobile Photography unique is the endless possibility to edit images, it’s a bit like doing a watercolor in the field and then paint over that painting once you get back home.
What do you think makes a good landscape photographer?
- Being able to see extraordinary into ordinary.
- Beautiful landscapes can be found close to home, never mind going to the end of the world, you just see them.
- Try not to give a simple reading of what we are facing, but acquire it, make it personal and retransmit these feeling through your own artistic language.
What are your top landscape photography tips?
- Try to emphasize the environmental conditions that may arise such as: a particular light, clouds, reflections in the water. You can do this both when you taking the picture and during the editing phase.
- Try to include items of interest into your pictures: clouds, water, trees, shrubs etc..
- Don’t feel limited by the lack of zoom of the iPhone, but learn how to use its moderated wide angle in order to have a closer relationship with landscape.
Where can people connect with your online?
Kevin Russ
Kevin Russ is a mobile photographer from Portland, Oregon and was the subject of an excellent short film where he talked about his work and approach as he travelled through the great American West documenting the landscapes, nature and widlife through his iPhone.
Kevin Russ | A Traveling Photographer from Max Monty on Vimeo.
I began taking photographs in 2004. After 18 months of shooting as a hobby I began making enough money to support myself and have been shooting ever since. I did portraits for a few years, took a little time off and am now back at it but shooting nature and wildlife this time with the iPhone.
What do you think makes a good landscape photographer?
Creativity, patience and introversion can all help. It’s the people who think outside the box of traditional landscape photography who are the ones that are inspiring to me.
What are your top landscape photography tips?
- Make compositions you haven’t seen before.
- Shoot when it’s overcast or at sunrise/sunset. Less isn’t always more.
- Sometimes adding the ground before you or branches around you can add more context to your landscapes and help the viewer feel more connected.
Where can people connect with your online?
Atle Rønningen
Atle Rønningen is an amateur mobile photographer based in Oslo, Norway. His landscape photography captures the breathtaking beauty of high mountain ranges and misty forests that surround him. His passion stems from his love of nature and the Norwegian wilderness. Alte’s credits include the founding of Android Editors, being apart of the AMPT community and receiving an honourable mention in the Mobile Photo Awards in 2012 (to name but a few).
I feel fortunate living in Norway where the nature has a lot to offer and I try to take the advantage of it by frequent hikes in the mountains. For me nothing is better than breathing in the fresh mountain air! Exploring the nature in combination with photography is perfect and my goal is to highlight the isolated beauty of the Norwegian wilderness. The mobile comes in handy as it is easily accessible for a quick shot but I also bring along a mirrorless compact camera, as well as tripod.
What do you think makes a good landscape photographer?
I believe it is all about the subject in general but a good landscape photo should capture a moment or atmosphere, or it can be something extraordinary. Personally, I try to tell a story and a common theme in my photos is the lone subject viewing the vast and unknown. The composition of the photo is of course also important for a landscape photographer.
What are your top landscape photography tips?
- Go to new places and pay attention to your surroundings
- Be creative with the composition. Sit or lay down to get new perspectives and look for “leading lines” or elements to put in the foreground that give feel of depth
- Take the advantage of “the golden hour” and by all means chase fog when you have the opportunity
- Enjoy the moment
Where can people connect with your online?
WhereiExplore.com | Tumblr | Instagram | Flickr | Twitter
Joanna Dunford
Joanna Dunford lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. Her work is heavily influenced by seaside landscapes which she captures through black and white images with dark lone shadowy figures, low point of view angles and the strong sense of wide open spaces through which she tries to capture and portray emotion through her work.
What do you think makes a good landscape photographer?
I thought of 1000 different things that could make a good landscape photographer but really, I don’t have a definitive answer. I think maybe someone who can capture natural beauty and emotion through their photography and make it look effortless.
What are your top landscape photography tips?
- Wrap up warm
- Be patient
- Look for the best light and space
- Compose you shot and visualise how you want it to look
- Take the shot from more than one angle
- Check your shots before you move on
- Enjoy it.
Where can people connect with your online?
Instagram | Tumblr | Flickr | Twitter
What are your top tips?
I’m sure you’ll agree the photographers featured here convey a varied selection of landscape photography styles through a mutual love of nature and their surroundings. They have imparted some excellent views and advice with the take aways being shoot when the light is right which usually means early morning or evening time. Find a focal point, foreground interest or leading lines into your photograph and try to tell a story. Think outside the box.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below along with any of your own landscape photography tips.
